Pacific Northwest - Seattle - which is worse? Montreaux or the short (steep) way up SE Tiger Mtn road

Finally made my way over to Montreaux hill today. What a beast. It could have just been the nasty weather but it seemed longer and steeper than SE Tiger Mountain Road. I don't have a Garmin...anyone out there have the details on Montreaux? I'm curious about the grade and elevation gain.

From what I can tell on gmap, Montreaux gains more altitude than SE Tiger in about the same length. I'm talking about the "short" way up SE Tiger Mtn. Road.

Tks,
Bruce

Heading from south to north on Tiger Mountain road? Montreaux is a far nastier climb in my book. Just a beast. Haven't been on them yet this year, but I'll be happy to weigh in after Livestrong.

www.bicycleclimbs.com should about cover any climb you'll encounter around here.

I'd definitely say Montreaux is harder than either direction of Tiger Mt. No question in my mind.

Montreux. I rode it twice this year. 3 times last year in preparing for riding it in LIVESTRONG. So my short experience of riding up it 6 times thus far and comparison to SE Tiger Mountain Road never entered my mind. See you at LIVESTRONG. Hope they have the Devil encouraging riders up Montreux once again.

This Clyde just did Montreux for the first time today. If I can do it, it can't be all that hard. Of course, I went up very very very slowly in my granny gear (30X23). If I were still riding with a standard double like back in the day I'd be singing a different song, no doubt.

What about Zoo Hill? Surely it should be mentioned in the same breath as these other Eastside thigh-burners.

What about Zoo Hill? Surely it should be mentioned in the same breath as these other Eastside thigh-burners.

I'm afraid of Zoo Hill. I need to drop more weight before I try that one.

No comparison between Montreux and Tiger Mtn. Tiger Mtn is a relative stroll in the park.

Now between Montreux and Zoo Hill, it's a pretty close competition. Zoo Hill is definitely tougher but not by a lot. Personally I'd much rather ride Zoo Hill because it's a much more scenic ride, lovely wooded hairpins vs. Montreux's suburban nothingness. For that reason, I've done Zoo Hill dozens of times and Montreux once.

No comparison between Montreux and Tiger Mtn. Tiger Mtn is a relative stroll in the park.

Now between Montreux and Zoo Hill, it's a pretty close competition. Zoo Hill is definitely tougher but not by a lot. Personally I'd much rather ride Zoo Hill because it's a much more scenic ride, lovely wooded hairpins vs. Montreux's suburban nothingness. For that reason, I've done Zoo Hill dozens of times and Montreux once.

Does Zoo Hill actually go anywhere?

Ah, never mind. I looked at this thing called a "map" and answered my own question.

For once I would love to see someone climb Dravus westbound in Magnolia, I believe its 19% grade for about 10 blocks...

Now between Montreux and Zoo Hill, it's a pretty close competition. Zoo Hill is definitely tougher but not by a lot. Personally I'd much rather ride Zoo Hill because it's a much more scenic ride, lovely wooded hairpins vs. Montreux's suburban nothingness. For that reason, I've done Zoo Hill dozens of times and Montreux once.

I'd rather ride up Zoo Hill; nicer scenery.

When you get to the "top" of either one, make sure you keep going up. There are some short, nasty climbs up higher -- like 166th Place, which intetersects with Cougar Mountain Way.

Thanks for all the feedback. My first trip up Montreaux was with my standard double and I thought I'd fall over at one point. Actually have a compact double coming this week and am looking forward to hitting Zoo Hill and the Tour de Blast with it.

Funny to see Dravus mentioned. Just yesterday we sat at the bottom contemplating it, before swinging right to do the scenic loop and park.

And amen to Montreaux being a wasteland of suburban hell.

No comparison between Montreux and Tiger Mtn. Tiger Mtn is a relative stroll in the park.

Now between Montreux and Zoo Hill, it's a pretty close competition. Zoo Hill is definitely tougher but not by a lot. Personally I'd much rather ride Zoo Hill because it's a much more scenic ride, lovely wooded hairpins vs. Montreux's suburban nothingness. For that reason, I've done Zoo Hill dozens of times and Montreux once.

+1

But yeah Cougar Mtn (Zoo) is where it's at!

And don't forget the bonus section once you get to the 'top' (take a left).

I think Montreaux is tougher than Zoo Hill. Much more boring so maybe that is why I think it is tougher. You do get some nice scenery with Zoo Hill.
Haven't tried Tiger - anyone have a link to the route? I tried the link above but I couldn't get it to open.

Tiger is the little loop at the bottom-right of this route map: http://veloroutes.org/bikemaps/?route=14081

(just off Issaq-Hobart road)

Montreaux is tougher, for sure. Tiger Mt Road is a nice little climb. Zoo Road IME is tougher than either, and more fun. I climbed it about 4-5 times. I'm a 6 foot 2 180 lbs triathlete with lots of muscle mass in the upper body. That climb just fricken kills me. I much prefer the easier side of Cougar, from Coal Creek. Same elevation gain, but 4.5 miles long climb instead of 2, so not as steep.

Rode up Zoo Hill today. Great climb! So much better than Montreaux. With a few false summits tossed in it made for a fun day.

Rode up Zoo Hill today. Great climb! So much better than Montreaux. With a few false summits tossed in it made for a fun day.

I'm a clydesdale (6'3" & 230 lbs) and I've done the Zoo Hill a few times. In all my experiences of climbing that monster, the thought of "these false summits make for a fun day" never occured to me. You know it's going to be a challenge when it FINALLY levels off to about 8% and you think - Hey, this is were I get to recover...

I am hopeful the training I'm doing, along with hills like the ones listed here are preparing me for RAMROD.

If anyone wants to do a head-to-head comparison, you hit both Tiger Mountain (south to north, steeper climb) and Montreaux on this Sunday's Livestrong Challenge. Not too late to sign up!

Seattle Livestrong Challenge (http://www.livestrong.org/Take-Action/Team-LIVESTRONG-Events/LIVESTRONG-Challenge-Series/LIVESTRONG-Challenge-Seattle) and we're always happy to take more folks on Team Fat Cyclist (http://seattle2010.livestrong.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=330114&lis=1&kntae330114=8B043EAF2607418FAE625341353661D1&supId=0&team=3611309&cj=Y)! Team Fatty won the Team fundraising challenge, so I believe we'll get to start at the front of the ride. Looks like the weather will be great and it's all for a good cause.

I'm a clydesdale (6'3" & 230 lbs) and I've done the Zoo Hill a few times. In all my experiences of climbing that monster, the thought of "these false summits make for a fun day" never occured to me. You know it's going to be a challenge when it FINALLY levels off to about 8% and you think - Hey, this is were I get to recover...

I am hopeful the training I'm doing, along with hills like the ones listed here are preparing me for RAMROD.


I meant "fun" in the same unrelenting, exhausting way it's "fun" to have a coliky newborn baby in the house. But when it's over, boy does it feel good.

I'm hopeful th training I've done on this and some other climbs around here has me ready for the Tour de Blast this Saturday. I feel like I've got plenty of miles but not enough climing under my legs. Only a few days left to find out.

Does Zoo Hill actually go anywhere?

Yes. :)

It will take you right over Cougar Mtn, and drop you off on Lakemont BLVD near Forest Drive. Some cool views of Lk Samm from up there and some fun rolling hills. There is a gravel cut through back into Lakemont which allows you to head back down Village Park Dr and then bomb down through Montreaux. Or, if you continue all the way through to Lakemont/Newcastle Road you have a couple of options...Head west down Forest Drive to Coal Creek PKWY, or head SW down past the golf course and then into Newcastle, where you will run again into Coal Creek, just a couple of miles south of Forest Drive.

That's my neck of the woods. :)

And the Zoo descent is fun too. Lakemont I think it is? You can just fly at about 45 for a few minutes to get back to the main road. Though one time there was an 8ft 2x4 in the shoulder. I avoided it but I was not a happy camper.

I just rode Zoo hill today for the first time. I don't know what I was thinking. I barely made it. What a beast.

Anybody here do the "Climb for Cancer" on Zoo this last weekend? I wasn't able to due to my crash on the 23rd...Should have my new ride this weekend.

Results and Pictures...

http://www.climb4cancer.net/

i am def a fan of the zoo hill climb but it's got several hundred feet of climbing more than montreaux has, you have to decend to get back down to the insection (plus it starts lower!). But the scenery and the few respites from climbing it provides are worth the extra effort.